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The Cape’s two top yards came close to sharing the spoils in Sunday’s G2 Selangor Cup at Kenilworth when runners from the Joey Ramsden and Dean Kannemeyer stables fought out a tense finish.
Ramsden's King Of Pain gained a a nose verdict over Capetown Noir as both colts stamped themselves as genuine leaders of their generation heading towards the G1 Cape Guineas on December 22.
Ramsden can do little wrong after a feature double last weekend but Kannemeyer should be eager for the Guineas rematch on the summer course.
There was less than a length between the pair as they raced midfield from the start before Bernard Fayd’Herbe sent King Of Pain along the inside rail turning for home as Karl Neisius switched Capetown Noir out and became cramped for galloping room.
At the 200m King Of Pain appeared to have an unassailable lead but Capetown Noir got clear to power down the outside to just miss in a mighty finish.
A visibly relieved Ramsden said Fayd’Herbe gave King Of Pain a great ride and hinted that the colt had not been helped by missing a prep run, suggesting he will be fitter next time but also admitting that Capetown Noir was "extremely good".
Fayd’Herbe admitted the rails draw had counted in his favour.
“I felt that we had seen daylight too early and I knew Karl was coming to get us," he said. "He showed character."
Kannemeyer said Captown Noir will be even better at 2000m, an indication that he could be in his J&B Met entries.
King Of Pain has a 100% earnings record as the winner of five of his seven races with two places.
Another Guineas contender emerged when The Hangman proved his class winning the reliable classic season pointer, the G2 Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Ridden by Piere Strydom. he gave trainer Sean Tarry a feature race double when he responded to a change of tactics after his defeat in the G3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m on November 3.
Strydom had him up with the leaders from the off and The Hangman found extra when challenged on all sides to win cosily by two lengths from the Geoff Woodruff-trained pair Sabadell and Killua Castle.
On the same card the Tarry-trained Toreador four-year-old Jackadore returned from a 189 day layoff to win the G2 Merchants over 1160m under Anthony Delpech and the Lucky Houdalakis-trained four-year-old Demanding Lady charged through late under Chase Maujean to win the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m in a blanket finish.
Owner Bridget Oppenheimer celebrated a feature double with her Gavin van Zyl-trained three-year-old filly Franny showing blistering pace to win the G3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m and her Ormond Ferraris-trained filly Cherry On The Top landed the G3 Fillies Mile.
